Gagne Back for Flyers After Long Absence

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, March 6, 2003

Simon Gagne has been mentioned in many recent trade rumors. For the first time in over a month, his name was also listed in the Philadelphia Flyers' lineup.

Gagne returned from a groin injury Friday night against the New York Rangers after missing the previous 13 games and 16 of 17.

The speedy left wing missed the Flyers' final three games before the All-Star break after he strained his right groin against the New York Islanders. He returned on Feb. 4, again against the Islanders, and this time he sustained a tear in the muscle.

Gagne was slated to return a week ago Thursday, but an aggravation of the injury in practice further delayed his comeback.

Gagne led the Flyers with 33 goals last season but an assortment of injuries _ including a concussion that kept him out five games in December and January _ have limited him to just seven goals and 24 points this season.

He entered with a team-high plus-18 rating, despite playing in only 42 of the Flyers' 65 games. But that mark took a beating in his first period back.

Gagne was on the ice for three of New York's first four goals, scored within the first 12:49 of the game. Two goals came at even strength and one was scored while the Flyers were on a power play.

Not only was he on the wrong side of the offense, he fell down once, was checked hard to the ice and missed a check in the New York zone that led to the Rangers' short-handed scoring rush.

Gagne, who also saw early time Friday on the penalty-killing unit, came back to game action just four days before the NHL trade deadline. His name has been linked to rumors, mostly centering around the Flyers' reported interest in high-scoring Calgary forward Jarome Iginla.

The Flyers also had left wing Todd Fedoruk back in the lineup. The rugged forward, who has 101 penalty minutes this season, has been out three games due to a sprained right thumb.